The temperature had plummeted overnight, with temperature readings of 13 at Kansas University and 12 at the Journal-World office, with 30- to 40-mph winds recorded at the Lawrence airport making a wind-chill of between 18 below and 36 below. The official reading of 13 degrees was still eight degrees above the record low for the date set in 1898, however.

A rough fight had been witnessed by spectators at the Missouri stadium during a recent KU-MU football game. A dozen or more uniformed officers had been seen using nightsticks over the heads and shoulders of some of the participants. Several of those taking part had been led away from the field, some in handcuffs. Reportedly, no one from Kansas was involved in the fracas.

Lawrence was ranked fourth in the state in the value of building permits issued through the first nine months of 1970, coming in behind Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka. The remaining cities on the top ten were Overland Park, Manhattan, Hutchinson, Olathe, Prairie Village and Pittsburg.